Sunday, 9 September 2018

50 Before 50 - The End

My 50 Before 50 list was started two years ago on my 48th birthday. As I've now turned 50, it's time up! So how have I done.

First of all, for those of you who don't know what I'm on about, you can see the list and read all about it, including how I was getting on at various stages over the two years, in the following posts.

3. Get my fortune read. I had every intention of seeing Lee Ester Alita Lee, the spiritualist clairvoyant who has a kiosk in Whitby but she was closed when we visited. I decided I'd see her the next time we went to Whitby but, unbelievably, she was closed again. Never mind, I'm sure we'll be back to Whitby again soon and perhaps she'll be open next time.

4. See a Shakespeare play. I've only seen one Shakespeare play advertised at a convenient location to me since I set this challenge and it was on a date I couldn't make. I thought I'd have my pick of plays to choose from as I thought Shakespeare would be more popular.

5. Finish Joyful World cross stitch. I still love this cross stitch design but I just wasn't enjoying working on it. You can read about my decision to call it a day in my More Than I Can Chew post.

10. Book on to a workshop or course. Since buying my sewing machine, I thought a sewing workshop or course would be ideal but seeing as I still haven't even taken the machine out of the box yet, I haven't looked for a course. This is one I shall definitely do at some time in the future though.

12. Have a health check. I had intended to book for a well woman check up at my doctor's surgery, I haven't done that but I did have a mammogram so I'm counting this as done. Screening for breast cancer begins at the age of 50 in the UK but there's trials happening where you're invited sooner and this is why I was offered a mammogram at the age of 48. I've got a smear test due next month which I'll definitely attend. I've also had my blood pressure measured as the nurse keeps an eye on this when I go for my vitamin B12 injections. All the tests that I have had have come back fine.

13. Explore Leeds Art Gallery. I made arrangements to visit the gallery right at the beginning of this challenge and then found out that it was closed for refurbishment. I never got round to rearranging a visit.

19. Take a train ride. I live in a small town and we're very lucky to have not one but two railway stations here, both within walking distance from where I live, yet I rarely use them even though I love travelling by train. I shall endeavour to take a train ride very soon.

26. Visit the Lake District. I was hoping that I'd get to visit the beautiful Lake District whilst doing this challenge. I don't live that far away so it's surprising I've never been before but it's still on my list of places to visit so I hope to get there soon.

27. Use my camera more on manual settings. I'm afraid I don't use my DSLR very often these days. I really wanted a zoom lens for it but they're rather expensive so I bought myself a Panasonic DMC-FZ72 bridge camera instead as this camera has a 60X zoom. I actually find it easier to carry this around instead of the Nikon DSLR and I tend to use it with it's pre set functions.

28. Have a go at needle felting. I haven't touched the kit which was bought for me for Christmas a few years ago. I shall get round to it at some point.

29. Take a trip to the cinema. I very rarely go to the cinema but Eleanor and I had decided to go and see the new Mamma Mia! film, we just never made it for one reason or another.

30. Do the Leeds Owl Trail. I thought this would be something to do on a quiet Sunday afternoon but it's something I just never got round to.

31. Go on a picnic. I've been on many picnics over the last two years as we usually take a picnic with us whenever we go out for the day. We've enjoyed picnics at the coast and picnics in the countryside. Mick always makes the picnics and he always makes a good job of it, he packs some scrummy treats.

34. Go to the ballet. I haven't been yet but I do have the tickets bought and paid for. Eleanor and I are going to see The Nutcracker in the lead up to Christmas. You can read about it in my Christmas Cracker post.

36. Have a massage. I could have ticked this one off the list when we went on holiday this year as they have a spa at the place where we stay. It's something I'd have done if we'd stayed in the lodge more but we didn't hang around the accommodation very much with the weather being so good.

37. Take an overnight trip with Eleanor. This is something I really wanted to do but with Eleanor being away at university and Mick having to be at home if I'm away to take care of Archie we just never sorted out the dates.

44. Finish the Spice Of Life crochet blanket. I'm afraid this is a big fail, I just wasn't enjoying working on this blanket so I ended up pulling it out. You can read about it in my Rip It Up And Start Again post.

45. Send a message in a bottle. I had second thoughts about this one. I'm sure everyone is aware of the plastic pollution in our oceans and many of us are trying to cut down on our use of plastic and reduce the amount of plastic we buy. I certainly don't want to add to the problem so I decided I wouldn't send a message in a bottle.

46. Engage in social media. I've never had accounts with Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, my blog is really the only social media that I engage in but I had intended to give Instagram a go. I'm a bit of a technophobe so I still haven't quite plucked up the courage to dip my toe in the water, but it's something that I do still intend to do at some point, especially now that I've got an iPad, which Mick bought me for my birthday.

So there you have it. I've only managed to tick off twenty five things, and to be honest, some of the ones which haven't been crossed off could have easily been done. What this list has done is encourage me to do some of the things I've been wanting to do for a long time but just haven't got around to, such as Visit Scotland, Read Wuthering Heights and Watch a Sunset From a Beach. I think the thing I enjoyed the most was my trip to Wales, I discovered a part of the UK which I fell in love with and will most certainly visit again.

I may now be 50 but I intend to keep going with the list and cross off some more things. It's definitely been a fun thing to do.

I think you've done really well with your list, and more importantly you've enjoyed some wonderful experiences. It's great that you intend to keep it going and it's a good reminder to seize every opportunity to do what's important to us. X

I think it's been a very good reminder to do some of the things I've wanted to do for some time. It's so easy to put things on the back burner and forget about them but I've really enjoyed most of the things I've done on the list.

I hope to make a start on my list. I liked treat yourself one, something I too rarely too and with regards the social media, I really like instagram and have found it easy to use. I don't understand twitter at all but enjoy looking at the things on instagram.

I'm really pleased that I started the list even if I only completed half of it. That's reassuring to hear that Instagram is easy to use, I'm such a technophobe that I worry I won't be able to work things out.

I think the course I book will definitely be sewing, I haven't got a clue when it comes to machine sewing so it will be good to have a bit of help right from the beginning. Eleanor's had a go at needle felting and she found it really easy, she didn't take a course, so I'm hoping it will be the same for me.

Oh, you've inspired me Jo! This is such a brilliant idea for someone like me - I find that the weeks slip by without achieving much and certainly things rarely get ticked off my wish list, although I did buy a new swimsuit the other day (not yet used though!) I have a two hour train journey tomorrow; I may use the time to think about what should be on my list!

It's definitely a fun thing to do and it's certainly helped me do more than I would otherwise have done. I've really enjoyed ticking things off, some things I've wanted to do for a long time but it's taken this list to get me going.

Eating black pudding - now that is what I call brave. Facebook is a cinch after that. Facebook would be good for you as there are various groups that you could join that would link up with your hobbies.

I didn't manage the whole black pudding, it's not that it didn't taste very nice, it did, it was the thought of what I was eating which put me off. I never thought about the Facebook groups, I suppose that would definitely be a big plus for Facebook.

For the Shakespeare, opera and ballet, have you considered the live screenings they show in the cinemas. I regularly go to the Odeon to see NT Live screenings of Shakespeare plays, which for me makes it convenient and affordable.

You've done well with your list and it's encouraged me to do one for my first year of retirement. Thank you!

I've seen the live screenings of Shakespeare advertised, that would definitely be a good way of seeing one of the plays. A list for your first year of retirement sounds good, I look forward to seeing what you put on it.

Yes, we have regular doctors in the UK and they're there whenever we need them. We're very lucky having the National Health Service here. As for 50 being the time to pay close attention to our health, I had cancer at the age of 32 so I do understand how important it is to keep a check on things and have done so for many years now.

I think you've done so well. You've visited some lovely places and ticked some great experiences off your list and created lots of happy memories too. Plus there are some good ones to look forward too.Lisa x

It was more of a list of things I knew I'd enjoy doing, which makes this list much easier to complete rather than goals etc. I don't think there's anything more satisfying that ticking things off a list.

Well done Jo to have ticked off many of the things you've wanted to do. I love it that there's such a variety on your list that satisfies the mind and body, some done for others, some done with others and some done in quiet times. All the best as you complete more on your list.

Well done on completing so many items on your list. It´s been fun reading about your trips etc and ticking off the boxes. I hope you can find a good course to set you up to use your sewing machine, maybe now its September there will be a few. Years ago I bought a knitting machine and enrolled in night school, it certainly helped although now I just prefer two needles lol xcx

There don't seem to be many places which hold courses around here, I remember the local schools holding night school but they don't do that anymore, such a shame. I think I shall have to look further afield but I won't let it put me off.

You've done well. I love a list, I find it makes me more inclined to do something if I've written it down. I'd like to go to the ballet or the opera too. At my local cinema they show live screenings of both and I'm tempted to try those before traveling any distance to see 'the real thing'.Good luck with the restx

Congratulations on ticking so many things off your list, I think you did really well.I was looking for a beginners sewing course to, like you have said the local schools used to do them but they don't seem to do it round here either anymore. I know Hobby Craft do very basic introduction one, you would think they would do more really seeing as they sell machines.

It's so hard to find classes for anything these days, I suppose more and more people are turning to online classes, which I must admit, I'm thinking of myself. I really wish night school was still a thing, it would be so convenient.

Congratulations and happy birthday, Jo! I'm so proud of you, I think you did amazingly well. I'm sorry to be pretty behind on your blog right now, but I hope you had a wonderful birthday and that all is going well with you and your family. Take care.

Wow, you've done so much in 2 years but more importantly had fun. I've mixed views about facebook - I do use it & it's good for being in 'interest groups 'such as crochet etc and I'd be lost without being able to connect with the bookclub members or the knit & natter ladies. I might need to actually pick up the phone and speak to them! I say that in all seriousness. It's great to connect & share news and views but like texting, fb has made us all a bit lazy I think. One bookclub membed refuses to do texting, e-mail and fb. No, she says, phone me if you want to speak to me. She has a point. You must do as you wish Jo. I love it, would be lost without it, though I regularly scale down groups and pgs I've joined / liked. Generally if I chat to peeps in a group, I don't friend them individually. All the best x

I have managed to cross off quite a few things, but there's still plenty to do. I'm not sure whether I'll join Facebook or not, Instagram is the thing that I'm swaying towards as it seems there's lots of crafters on there. Perhaps I should give it all a try and then see which I prefer.

Well done Jo. I know I've read all those posts & remembered so much of what you did. I think getting half done in two years is a credit to you. Look forward to hearing about more. Thanks for the update, take care & huggles.

I'm really glad that I started the list, it's enabled me to tick off some of the things I've been wanting to do, even if I didn't manage everything. I'm sure a few more will get ticked off before I'm done.

Well, I for one am impressed by everything that you ticked off your list - setting a deadline is a wonderful idea, really encouraging us to do all those things that we really want to do but keep putting off till later. My daughter has taken to doing seasonal bucket lists i.e. summer bucket list, fall bucket list, etc. and we actually ended up doing quite a few things that we otherwise wouldn't have done because of that.

I've seen the seasonal bucket lists, I think they're a really good idea and something I may adopt myself in the future. I've really enjoyed ticking off things I've been wanting to do and will continue with the list for a while longer.

Well done you on achieving a lot of your Bucket List,love the photos,thanks for sharing.I am now over 60,and have not achieved anything lol.I must address this Anxiety thingy maybe I could achieve more.Cuddles for Archie.xx

About Me

Thank you for visiting. I'm Jo, fifty and happily married with two grown up children and a dog called Archie. Take a peek Through The Keyhole into my home on the outskirts of Leeds in West Yorkshire, England. Here you'll see a little of what I get up to on my crafty adventures as well as snippets of family life. I hope you enjoy reading along.